Campus Watch: Below is a summary of campus activity reported to or observed by The University Police Department Patrol Officers between Tuesday, 11/25/14 and Wednesday, 11/26/14 Travel Safety Tips Throughout the week people will be flooding the roadways, streets, sidewalks, railways, flying the friendly skies and hoisting anchors to meet up with friends and family to share in giving thanks. Before we make our voyages, consider the following travel safety tips: - Before leaving, take care of your residence and the property you are leaving behind. Move your bicycle inside. Move your property form your porch inside. Have your mail and newspapers held until next week or have a trusted friend pick-up these tell-tale signs that you are not home. Make sure to drip your faucets before leaving as you never know when a freak freeze may happen in Texas. Check out a timer form the UT Police Department. A timer can be used to turn lights, radios etc. on and off throughout your vacation. This gives the impression you are at home. - Check your car’s essentials. Make sure the tires are properly inflated and the oil, transmission, radiator and wiper fluid levels are filled to the proper level. - Stock your car. Put a cell phone charger, a roll of paper towels, a blanket and some snacks in your vehicle. - Plan your trip out ahead of time so you don’t have unattended surprises with the route. - Let people know your schedule so they know to start checking if you don’t show up on time. - Be a good driver! I cannot stress this enough. Collisions on our roadways always seem to go up during holiday weekends. There are many causes for this but the two primary ones are driving while intoxicated and distracted driving. I know all of you have already been directed to not drink and drive but the reinforcement of that suggested is warranted each and every day. Do not let the holiday libations make you or someone else less thankful. With regard to distracted driving, it is every bit as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. That is why I am happy to share that many municipalities are taking this issue up through local ordinances that ban cell phone, GPS and other electronic device usage while driving. The City Of Austin recently passed a city ordinance that will take effect on the first of January. This ordinance bans the manual dialing and deactivation of cell phone calls, participating in a call in which you hold the phone to your ear, viewing or sending any electronic data or entering or changing any information on a GPS while the motor vehicle OR bicycle is in motion. Any violation of this ordinance within the City of Austin could result in a Class C Misdemeanor charge. While this city ordinance does not take effect until January, let’s all dedicate ourselves to self-impose these mandates starting today. If someone asks you what present you would like this season – ask for a hands-free system for your car. BERNARD & AUDRE RAPOPORT BUILDING, 2225 Speedway Theft / Credit Card Abuse: A wallet containing $100.00 in cash, two forms of identification and six debit or credit cards was stolen from an unsecured 3rd floor office while the owner was out of the office. When the owner contacted the financial institutions to cancel his debit and credit cards, he learned $1,000.00 worth of unauthorized charges had been made against this accounts. Loss value: $125.00. Occurred on 11/24/14 between 1:30 PM and 5:00 PM. CLAUDIA TAYLOR JOHNSON, 200 Colorado Street Criminal Trespass Warning: A UT Security Guard observed a non-UT subject attempting to relieve internal pressures in an exterior stairwell. When the subject refused to follow the guard’s directive to leave UT property, one of UT’s finest was summoned. The police officer had much better success gaining compliance after the issuance of a written criminal trespass warning. Occurred on 11/26/14 at 12 midnight. MANOR PARKING GARAGE, 2017 Robert Dedman Burglary of Motor Vehicle: A UT student parked his 2003 Mercury Mountaineer on the 3rd level of the parking garage. The student believed he locked his car doors before leaving his vehicle but was not sure. When the student returned to his vehicle he observed the driver’s door was slightly ajar. The student inventoried his vehicle and discovered a GPS system, four pairs of pants, 2 shirts, and two phone chargers had been stolen from his vehicle. Loss value: $350.00. Occurred on 11/25/14 between 8:30 AM and 5:45 PM. STUDENT SERVICES BUILDING, 100 West Dean Keeton Harassment: A UT staff member reported receiving a threatening and offensive e-mail from a former UT student who was inquiring about a bar on his record. Occurred on 11/21/14. UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, 1616 Guadalupe Graffiti: Silver colored spray paint was used to draw images on the east exterior brick wall of the building. Removal cost: $50.00. Discovered on 11/25/14 at 5:25 PM. The University of Texas Police Department responded to 17 Alarm Reports, 1 “Police Help” Callbox Activation, 6 Suspicious Activity Reports, 12 Traffic Violations, 2 Collision Reports, 1 Medical Emergency, 2 Unsecured Door Reports,1 Welfare Concern Report, 5 Found Property Reports and 6 Public Assist Reports between 11/25/14 and 11/26/14. Prepared by: Ofc. WR π/ To subscribe or unsubscribe, visit http://www.utexas.edu/police/campuswatch/subscribe.php/
